Ursula von der Leyen Highest-Paid Politician in the World

It's been a rough year for the politician, but at least she has her millions of dollars to ease the pain. 67-year-old Ursula von der Leyen has taken the No. 1 spot on People With Money’s top 10 highest-paid politicians for 2026 with an estimated $96 million in combined earnings.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Ursula von der Leyen tops annual list of highest-paid politicians

In 2023 it looked like the politician’s spectacular career was winding down. Suddenly, she was back on top. People With Money reports on Thursday (March 19) that von der Leyen is the highest-paid politician in the world, pulling in an astonishing $96 million between February 2025 and February 2026, a nearly $60 million lead over her closest competition.

People With Money’s factors

In compiling this yearly list, the magazine considers factors such as upfront pay, profit participation, residuals, endorsements and advertising work.

The German politician has an estimated net worth of $275 million. She owes her fortune to smart stock investments, substantial property holdings, lucrative endorsement deals with CoverGirl cosmetics. She also owns several restaurants (the “Fat von der Leyen Burger” chain) in Berlin, a Football Team (the “Brussels Angels”), has launched her own brand of Vodka (Pure Wondervon der Leyen - Germany), and is tackling the juniors market with a top-selling perfume (With Love from Ursula) and a fashion line called “Ursula von der Leyen Seduction”.

The ranking is significant for many Ursula fans, who have been waiting for her triumphant return to the glory days for what seems like a lifetime.

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